Camera support adapter for a tripod

• US 10,571,783 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cale Dikeman
• Original Assignee: Cale Dikeman
• Inventors: Dikeman, Cale
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Rodney E
• Application Number:
  US16/423,297
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 396419, 396423, 396428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02

Abstract

The camera support adapter for a tripod may prevent a camera from falling to the ground while being attached to or removed from a tripod. In an embodiment, the camera support adapter for a tripod may comprise a swivel plate, a top bushing, a bottom bushing, a camera plate, a tripod head, and one or more straps. The camera plate may be held in place on the bottom of a camera by the tripod head. The swivel plate may couple to a tripod via the top bushing and the bottom bushing. The one or more straps may detachably couple the camera plate to the swivel plate. The one or more straps may limit the distance that a dropped camera may fall and may be detached from the camera plate so that the camera may be carried away from the tripod.

Claims

1. A camera support adapter for a tripod comprising:

a swivel plate, a top bushing, a bottom bushing, a camera plate, a tripod head, and one or more straps;

wherein the camera plate is held in place on the bottom of a camera by the tripod head;

wherein the swivel plate couples to a tripod via the top bushing and the bottom bushing;

wherein the one or more straps detachably couple the camera plate to the swivel plate;

wherein the one or more straps prevent the camera from falling if the camera is dropped while being attached to or removed from the tripod.

2. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 1

wherein the swivel plate comprises a first swivel plate half and a second swivel plate half;

wherein the swivel plate is a horizontally-oriented annular disk with an outer circumference and an inner circumference;

wherein the inner circumference defines a swivel aperture;

wherein the swivel aperture has a larger diameter than a hub such that the swivel plate is free to rotate around the bottom bushing;

wherein the swivel plate separates into the first swivel plate half and the second swivel plate half at a separation line.

3. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 2

wherein the swivel plate clamps onto the bottom bushing by placing the first swivel plate half on one side of the hub on the bottom bushing, by placing the second swivel plate half on the opposing side of the hub, and by coupling the first swivel plate half to the second swivel plate half;

wherein a first mortise and tenon joint and a second mortise and tenon joint couple the first swivel plate half to the second swivel plate half;

wherein the first mortise and tenon joint comprises a first tenon, a first mortise, and a first retainer pin;

wherein the second mortise and tenon joint comprises a second tenon, a second mortise, and a second retainer pin.

4. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 3

wherein the first swivel plate half is one half of the swivel plate;

wherein the first swivel plate half comprises the first tenon and the second tenon;

wherein the first tenon projects horizontally from the separation line of the first swivel plate half on one side of the swivel aperture;

wherein the second tenon projects horizontally from the separation line of the first swivel plate half on the opposing side of the swivel aperture;

wherein the first tenon and the second tenon are oriented perpendicularly to the separation line;

wherein the first tenon comprises a first tenon retention aperture;

wherein the second tenon comprises a second tenon retention aperture.

5. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 4

wherein the second swivel plate half is one half of the swivel plate;

wherein the second swivel plate half comprises the first mortise and the second mortise;

wherein the first mortise is an indention projecting horizontally into the second swivel plate half on one side of the swivel aperture;

wherein the second swivel plate half comprises a first mortise retention aperture which is vertically oriented and passes through the first mortise;

wherein the second mortise is an indention projecting horizontally into the second swivel plate half on the opposing side of the swivel aperture;

wherein the second swivel plate half comprises a second mortise retention aperture which is vertically oriented and passes through the second mortise.

6. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 5

wherein the first tenon and the first mortise are placed and oriented such that the first tenon slides into the first mortise when the first swivel plate half is coupled to the second swivel plate half;

wherein the first retainer pin is inserted into the first mortise retention aperture and passed through the first tenon retention aperture to retain the first swivel plate half to the second swivel plate half;

wherein the second tenon and the second mortise are placed and oriented such that the second tenon slides into the second mortise when the first swivel plate half is coupled to the second swivel plate half;

wherein the second retainer pin is inserted into the second mortise retention aperture and passed through the second tenon retention aperture to retain the first swivel plate half to the second swivel plate half.

7. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 6

wherein the swivel plate comprises a plurality of curved slots;

wherein the plurality of curved slots form a non-contiguous circle surrounding the center of the swivel plate;

wherein an individual curved slot selected from the plurality of curved slots is an arc-shaped aperture that passes vertically through the swivel plate and subtends an angle measuring between 45 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the center of the swivel plate;

wherein the individual curved slot is larger than one of the one or more straps such that one of the one or more straps pass through the individual curved slot.

8. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 7

wherein the swivel plate comprises a plurality of accessory mounting apertures;

wherein the plurality of accessory mounting apertures are vertically oriented apertures for attaching one or more accessories.

9. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 8

wherein the plurality of accessory mounting apertures are threaded.

10. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 8

wherein the top bushing is a horizontally-oriented plate that is placed above the swivel plate;

wherein the top bushing comprises a threaded shaft that is vertically oriented and located at the center of the top bushing;

wherein the threaded shaft projects both above and below the top bushing;

wherein an upward projection of the top bushing couples to the tripod head;

wherein a downward projection of the top bushing couples to the bottom bushing.

11. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 10

wherein the bottom bushing is a horizontally-oriented plate that is placed below the swivel plate;

wherein the bottom bushing comprises the hub;

wherein the hub is an upward extension of the top face of the bottom bushing and is circular when viewed from above;

wherein the hub has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the bottom bushing and is smaller than the diameter of the top bushing;

wherein the bottom bushing further comprises a threaded aperture that is vertically oriented and located at the center of the bottom bushing;

wherein the downward projection of the threaded shaft on the top bushing screws into the top of the threaded aperture to couple the top bushing and the bottom bushing with the swivel plate sandwiched between the top bushing and the bottom bushing;

wherein a threaded tripod screw on the tripod screws into the bottom of the threaded aperture to couple the bottom bushing to the tripod.

12. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 11

wherein the camera plate comprises a central aperture, a first straight slot, and a second straight slot;

wherein the camera plate is an oblong plate that couples to the bottom of the camera;

wherein the central aperture is a vertically-oriented aperture located at the center of the camera plate;

wherein the first straight slot and the second straight slot are elongated apertures located at opposite longitudinal ends of the camera plate;

wherein the first straight slot and the second straight slot are oriented such that they extend laterally across the camera plate;

wherein the first straight slot and the second straight slot are each larger than one of the one or more straps such that one of the one or more straps pass through the first straight slot or through the second straight slot.

13. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 12

wherein the tripod head retains the camera plate to the camera;

wherein the tripod head comprises a threaded head screw that projects upwards vertically from the top, center of the tripod head;

wherein the threaded head screw screws into the camera after passing through the central aperture of the camera plate thus retaining the camera plate to the camera.

14. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 13

wherein the tripod head further comprises a threaded head aperture;

wherein the threaded head aperture is vertically oriented and located at the bottom center of the tripod head;

wherein the upward projection of the top bushing screws into the threaded head aperture to detachably couple the tripod head to the top bushing.

15. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 14

wherein the threaded aperture, the threaded shaft, the threaded head aperture, the threaded head screw, or combinations thereof are threaded with either ¼

inch—

20 or ⅜

inch—

16 threads.

16. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 14

wherein the one or more straps detachably couple the camera plate to the swivel plate;

wherein an individual strap selected from the one or more straps couples to the first straight slot on the camera plate or to the second straight slot on the camera plate at one end of the individual strap.

17. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 16

wherein the end of the individual strap that couples to the camera plate passes through the camera plate and couples to itself using a hook and loop fastener.

18. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 16

wherein the other send of the individual strap couples to one of the plurality of curved slots on the swivel plate;

wherein the one or more straps prevent the camera from falling if the camera is dropped while being attached to or removed from the tripod;

wherein because the camera is coupled to the camera plate and the camera plate is coupled to the swivel plate via the one or more straps, if the camera is dropped the camera falls only as far as the one or more straps hanging from the swivel plate will allow.

19. The camera support adapter for a tripod according to claim 18

wherein the camera support adapter for a tripod allows the camera to be rotated at the top of the tripod because the swivel plate is free to rotate around the top bushing;

wherein as the camera is rotated, the camera plate is also rotated and the one or more straps pull on the swivel plate causing the swivel plate to rotate along with the camera.